The West Bengal government has announced a festive gift for ration card holders ahead of Durga Puja. Flour, sugar and semolina will be sold at a 50 per cent discount through fair price shops during the Puja season. Food and Supplies Minister Ashok Kirtania announced the package on Friday. It will reach about 2.12 crore families, far wider than the earlier arrangement, which gave a 10 per cent discount only to Antyodaya and special priority card holders, covering around 78 lakh families. Each family will get 1 kg of sugar, 1 kg of wheat and 250 g of suji at half the market price. Sugar that sells at Rs 44 to 46 per kg will cost about Rs 25 to 28. The state expects an extra expenditure of Rs 114 crore. All card holders under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana, priority households and the state’s Khadya Sathi scheme are eligible. Distribution will use biometric e-POS authentication. Special task forces of inspectors will conduct surprise checks against black marketing and diversion. Shops must display rate and stock boards in Bengali and English. The minister said the benefit is for all communities, and is not tied to any religion.